Conveying and registering mechanism



April 6, 1954 a. A. GIBSON, JR

CONVEYING AND REGISTERING MECHANISM Filed July 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GEORGE 4615mm, .m.

ATTORNEY p 6, 1954 G. A. GIBSON, JR

CONVEYING AND REGISTERING MECHANISM Filed July 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 650mg 4615mm, J/e.

ATTORNEY April 1954 a. A. GIBSON, JR 2,674,456

CONVEYING AND REGISTERING MECHANISM Filed July 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- INVENTOR. 650E554. 6153mm.

A TTORNE Y Patented Apr. 6, 1954 CONVEYING AND REGISTERING MECHANISM George A. Gibson, J r., New York, N. Y. Application July 29, 1950, Serial No. 176,698

14 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a conveying and registering mechanism for relatively fiat articles such as paper, cards, or th like.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying ,drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate an embodimentof the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

The invention comprises a mechanism forconveying or forwarding flat articles-such as paper, cards, or the like, whichmaybe either ornamented or unornamented at the time of forwarding, and the mechanism likewise registers th forwarded articles to occupy a predetermined position on discharge for convenience and precision in later operations thereon. The device as herein shown and described for punposesof illustration may, for

example, be adapted to receive printed or embossed card stock from a supplymeans, said stock being in the form of relatively long and narrow rectangular units, and to forward said units to a cutting mechanism. which will out each into a plurality of finished cards by spaced cuts lengthwise of each unit. The conveyor of the invention is adapted to register the units during forwarding by engagement at one end thereof so that each unit will enter the cutters in a fixed, predetermined position, and relatively simple and convenient means are provided in the conveyor for varying the angular relationship of the entire conveyor with respect to its place of delivery, and its transverse relationship as well, so-that, assuming delivery is made to a rotary cutting mechanism, the forwarded units may be properly squared and the end trim determined without adjustment of thecutters at all.

In a device of the type described the invention also provides improved mechanism for positively engaging, forwarding and registering the stock units by handlingone end thereof, so that a wide variety of stock may be handled, and even work that will not pile evenly maybejfed and delivered without damage. The roller elements for engaging and forwarding the stock unitsare positively driven through improved driving mechanism which is smooth in operation, said mechanism is adapted to permit the angular and transverse adjustments in the conveyor which have been noted, and the entire driven forwarding mechanism is adapted to operate successfully upon units of small or large widths. The roller elements themselves are conveniently adjustable both as to tension with which the units are engaged, and spacing for engaging units of different thickness.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typical and illustrative embodiment of the invention as viewed from theleft side of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism, certain parts of the-feed table being broken away to show underlying parts;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1i3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig.2; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view (taken alon line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings the conveying and registering mechanism of the invention may be adapted to receive relatively fiat articles from any suitablefeeding mechanism indicated generally by the numeral III, which may individually feed, for example, rectangular card stock units I l which arerelatively long and narrow and are already suitably printedor otherwise ornamented. Said units are registeredandconveyed to the cutting mechanism I2, which may have a plurality of spacedrotary cuttingelements i3 for cutting the units H at spaced intervals along their lengths into finished cards. In general, the conveying mechanism of the invention comprises ailat feed table which maybe formed of two table elements M and lEand feeding and registerin-g means at oneSide thereof comprising pairs of upper and lower driven rollers l 6 and I?! respectively and a guide surface it in a grooved member l9 whereby theedges of units H areengaged, registered and. forwardedalong the table in the. directionas indicated in Fig. 2. The. entire conveyor mechanismincludingtheieed table and forwarding and registering means are-adjustable transversely of the direction. of .travel of the units I I, and the feedingand .registeringmechanism is angularly adjustable with respect to the feed table.

Turning first to a detailed descriptionof the feed table, thelnain framework of the machine mayc m ris a pai ofane eeleme ts 'msu ab positioned on the floor or on other framework,

conveyor.

and secured thereto as by bolts 2| are a plurality, three as shown, of cross elements 22, 23 and 24 extending transversely of the direction of feed of the conveyor. The left hand (as seen in Fig. element 22 carries a base block 25 secured thereto and extending along the length thereof, the central element carries a pair of base blocks similar thereto, and the right hand element carries a similar base block 21 and another base element 25 secured thereto. The elements so far mentioned form a stationary framework upon which the conveyor mechanism is adapted to slide for transverse adjustment.

Spaced centrally and at the right hand side (Fig. 2) of the feed table are two cross members 23 and 33 respectively, and a third cross member 3| is positioned at the left hand side of the table and forms also a base member for the feeding and guiding mechanism. The cross members 29, and 3| are tied together by means of an extending slider plate 32 positioned and guided between the blocks 26, and also by plates 34 and a. A plurality of vertical supports 33 are provided fixed to the cross members 32, 34 and Ma and support the conveyor table elements l4 and I5.

I'he conveyor table elements, and the base plate 3| which carries the feeding and registering mechanism, are thus supported for sliding movement transversely of the direction of feed of the machine, and adjustment of the lateral position is effected by means of an elongated screw 35 (Figs. 4 and 5) which threadedly engages a block or nut 36 secured to slider plate 32. The screw 35 is shouldered and journalled in a fixed block 31 secured to the cross element 23, and it will be apparent that rotation of hand wheel 33 will traverse the entire conveyor in a direc tion at right angles to the feed of articles thereacross.

Referring now in detail to the feeding and registering mechanism, the same comprises housing parts 40 and 4| secured together and extending along the length of the conveyor (direction of travel of articles), said parts being supported by their base flanges 42 and 43 respectively upon the base plate 3|, and being pivotally mounted thereon by means of a pin 45 at the delivery end of the conveyor extending through an extension of flange 43 and into base plate 3 I. Housing parts 40 and 4| have upwardly extending portions carrying a plurality of journals 46 and 41 respectively in which are rotatably positioned shafts 48 each of which carries a lower feeding roller H. The upper feeding rollers l6 are carried on shafts 43 rotatably mounted in suitable journals in an inverted U-shaped bracket for each shaft and roller. Said brackets 50 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 5| extending lengthwise of the machine, whereby the upper rollers l imay be raised or lowered with respect to the lower rollers ll. It will be noted that said rollers have a frusto-conical form which facilitates the entrance of the ends of card stock units ll between them at any place along the line of rollers. The roller shafts 48 and 49 are positioned at an angle to the direction of travel of the conveyed articles so that the edges of such articles are carried over to and abutted against the guide surface IS in grooved member l9 as they progress along the conveyor and are thus placed in predetermined position for discharge from the Tension and spacing adjustment means are provided for each set of rollers l6 and I1 operatively connected to the upper roller l6, and as embodied, comprise a shaft 55 pivotally connected at one end to bracket 50 and threaded at its other end to receive knurled nut 56. A sleeve 5! having a knurled flange 58 is positioned around shaft 55 and externally threaded to engage in a threaded aperture in plate 53, which is mounted on a support bracket or plate 63 which in turn is securely mounted upon an extending web portion of housing part 40. A coiled spring 6| is compressed between followers 62 and 53 about shaft 55, and it will be apparent that the spring exerts force against bracket 50 to yieldingly press upper roller l6 downwardly toward roller I! in order to engage and hold conveyed articles at their edges between the rollers. Rollers l6 and H may be adjustably spaced apart in order to accommodate articles of different thicknesses by turning flange 58 with the fingers, and nut 55 provides an adjustment of the tension of spring 6|, and thus the force with which it resists upward movements of roller IS.

The angular relationship of the entire roller and guide assembly which has been described is adjustable about the pivot axis 45 by means of an adjustment screw 65 threadedly engaged through a vertical plate 66 (Fig. 4) secured to base plate 3| toward the intake end of the conveyor, the screw being adapted to engage the housing part 40. The adjustment screw 65 works in opposition to a coiled spring 61 positioned between the housing part 4| and one of the upright table supports 33. Limiting movements of the assembly is effected by screws 68 through slots 69 in base plate 3| and positioned in the housing assembly 40, 4|.

A continuation of the conveyor table |4-|5 is provided in the angular plate 10 secured to a web of housing part 4|, and the upper horizontal part of said plate is of scalloped formation to permit a portion of the periphery of each lower roller I! to extend above said plate, so that the edges of articles supported on the conveyor table and plate 10 are positively engaged by the driven rollers. A pivotally mounted cover plate may complete the housing about the roller drive and adjustment assembly.

Driving means for the rollers comprise meshing helical gears I5 and 16 fixed to shafts 49 and 48 respectively with gear '16 in mesh with a helical gear 11 fixed on drive shaft 18 which extends along the entire conveyor, it being understood that the gear drive assembly just mentioned is reproduced for each pair of rollers I5, l1. Shaft 78 at one end carries helical gear 19 which meshes with a helical gear 80 having a splined connection with main drive shaft 82, the latter being driven by any suitable means (not shown). In order to accommodate the gear driving means to pivotal and transverse movements of the roller assembly, a twin fork assembly is secured to base plate 3| to engage both sides of gear 80, which thereby is caused to move along its splined connection with main drive shaft 82, remaining in constant mesh with gear 19 to drive the several rollers. The angular movement required about pivot 45 in order to properly direct the units through the feeding mechanism is very small, and such movement is easily accommodated at the gears 19 and 80 by means of ordinary and usual tolerance or back-lash between the gears. That is, the gears are not in complete mesh contact, but their centers are spaced apart a very slight amount in excess of the theoretical distance upon the basis of which the gears are out, which provides-adequate room for the small movement requiredi With the conveyor construction shown and described it will be" apparent that the conveyor surely andposit'ively engages articles to be forwarded. by their edges between rollers I6. and H, register them on guide surface iii-and discharges them for instance to cutter i2-- in the desired, predetermined position with respect to the'cutting knives-thereof. The conveyor is easily adjusted transversely for determination of the end trim, and angularl'y for perfectsquaring with the cutter. The plurality of driven rollers positively engage, register and forwardarticlesof' quite small width, accommodatethemselves to'uneven surfaces, and are readily adjusted for articles of different thicknesses.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom, within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A conveyor and registering mechanism comprising, in combination, driven means for engaging and forwarding articles at the edges thereof, registration means to be engaged by the edges of the articles engaged by said first means, means for varying the position of said first two means transversely of the direction of movement of articles, and other independent means for moving said first and second means about a pivot in order to angularly vary the direction or movement of the articles.

2. A conveyor and registering mechanism including, in combination, supporting means for articles to be conveyed, means at one side of said first means for drivingly engaging and register ing articles on said first means at their edges and forwarding the articles, means for varying the position of said first and second means transversely of the direction of movement of articles, and means for moving said second means about a pivot in order to angularly vary the direction of movement of the articles.

3. A conveyor and registering mechanism including, in combination, a supporting table for articles to be conveyed, guide means at one side of said table to be engaged by an edge of articles on said table for registering the articles, driven means adjacent said guide means for positively engaging the articles at the edge, moving them into engagement with said guide means, and forwarding them across said table, means for varying the position of said table, guide means and driven means transversely of the direction of movement of the articles, and means for moving said guide means and driven means about a pivot in order to angularly vary the direction of movement of the articles.

4. A conveyor and registering mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said driven means comprises a plurality of pairs of upper and lower cooperating rollers spaced along the conveyor in the direction of movement of articles thereon.

5. A conveyor and registering mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said driven means comprises a plurality of pairs of upper and lower cooperating rollers spaced along the conveyor in the direction of movement of articles thereon each said roller having a substantial portion thereof frusto-conical in shape.

6. A conveyor and registering mechanism as comprisesa plurality'ofpairs of upper and lower cooperating-rollersspacedalong the conveyor in the direction" of movement' of articles-thereon, said lower rollers being so' mounted that portions of the peripheries thereof extend above thelcvel of said supporting table;

7'. A conveyor and registering mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said driven means comprises a plurality of pairs of upperand lower cooperating rollers spaced along the conveyor in the direction of movement of articles thereon, said guide means comprising. a member having a straight,. fiat surface extending. along the conveyor in the direction ofmovement of the articles, and's'aid rollers being mounted'on horizontal axes inclined with respect to said surface.

8. A conveyor and registering mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said driven means comprises a plurality of pairs of upper and lower cooperating rollers spaced along the conveyor in the direction of movement of articles thereon, one roller of each pair of said rollers being movably mounted for movement toward and away from its cooperating roller, and yieldable means biasing said rollers toward each other.

9. A conveyor and registering mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said driven means comprises a plurality of pairs of upper and lower cooperating rollers spaced along the conveyor in the direction of movement of articles thereon, one roller of each pair of said rollers being movably mounted for movement toward and away from its cooperating roller, tension means biasing said rollers toward each other, means for varying the tension of said tension means, and means for varying the minimum spacement between the rollers of each said pair of rollers.

10. A conveyor and registering mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said driven means comprises a plurality of pairs of upper and lower cooperating rollers spaced along the conveyor in the direction of movement of articles thereon, said rollers all being driven from a single shaft extending in the direction or movement of articles on the conveyor.

11. A conveyor and registering mechanism as set forth in claim, 3 wherein said driven means comprises a plurality of pairs of upper and lower cooperating rollers spaced along the conveyor in the direction of movement of articles thereon, said rollers all being driven from a single shaft extending in the direction of movement of articles on the conveyor, said single shaft being driven from a second shaft disposed substantially normal thereto by a pair of meshing gears one connected to each said shaft, the gear on said second shaft having a splined connection therewith, and means engaging said last mentioned gear adapted to follow transverse and angular movements of said guide means and :driven means.

12. A conveyor and registering mechanism comprising, in combination, an elongated guide element extending in the direction of movement of articles through the conveyor, a plurality of pairs of cooperating rollers adjacent said element said pairs being spaced from each other therealong, one roller of each said pair of rollers being pivotally mounted for movement toward and away from its cooperating roller the axis of said pivotal mounting being substantially parallel to the direction of movement of articles through the conveyor, tension means for biassing each said pivotally mounted roller toward its cooperating roller, and means for individually driving each said roller said means comprising individual meshing gears for respective ones of the rollers in each said pair of rollers and a common shaft extending in the direction of movement of articles through the conveyor for driving all said gears.

13. A conveyor and registering mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein means are provided for varying the tension of said tension means and for varying the minimum spacement between the rollers of each said pair of rollers.

14. A conveyor and registering mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein a shaft is provided for each said roller said shafts being horizontally positioned and inclined with respect to said guide element and said rollers each have a substantial portion thereof frusto-conical in shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,041,234 Blood Oct. 15, 1912 1,680,044 Hitchcock Aug. 7, 1928 1,708,157 Spiess Apr. 9, 1929 1,898,794 Spiess Feb. 21, 1983 2,165,161 Spiess July 4, 1939 2,181,241 Klemm Nov. 28, 1939 2,240,424 Spiess Apr. 29, 1941 2,385,047 Adrian Sept. 18, 1945 2,464,173 Broadmeyer Mar. 8, 1949 

